Poth shows there's success in numbers

Pirettes' depth and multitude of weapons have been keys in bid for Class 2A state title.

Published 9:26 pm, Friday, November 19, 2010

SAN MARCOS - There was a time when Poth's Tara Dunn felt it was up to her to do it all.

If the Pirettes were struggling, in need of a crucial play to stem the tide, Dunn was going to be the one to try to make it.

Then something changed over the years. Dunn's teammates - through their performances - showed the 6-foot-2 senior hitter that sometimes doing less could be better.

"At times, I thought that I needed to do more, and I tried to do more," Dunn said. "But the more that I realize that my team is there for me - and they're always going to be there when I'm having a bad day - it helped me relax when I'm out on the court.''

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The Pirettes' depth is a big reason why the team is on the verge of its eighth Class 2A state title in 16 seasons and second straight.

Poth (43-6) plays White Oak (45-1) at 11 a.m. today at Texas State's Strahan Coliseum. It's a rematch of a 2009 state semifinal match, won by the Pirettes.

"I guess since we played them last year in the semifinals, and we proved that we were the better team, I guess we want to do it again," Poth junior Jordan Kotara said.

The Pirettes' multitude of weapons could play a key role as they try to illustrate that point.

While players like Dunn, Kotara and Avery Acker receive a lot of the attention, Poth isn't at this stage because of just two or three players.

As Thursday's dismantling of Jewett Leon in the state semifinals showed, the Pirettes are deep, talented and able to rely on countless players in the key moments.

Against Jewett Leon, for example, Amy Orth had four aces, a team-high 11 digs and served for 13 straight points in Game 1 to help Poth grab control of the match. Jessica Dziuk posted a team-high five aces. Kelsee Felux had six kills and a .500 hitting clip. Micah Weaver had two blocks.

"I think that's what makes them as effective as they are," Poth coach Patti Zenner said. "Different day, different times, different parts of the game, somebody else steps up and takes care of things."

Weaver is a prime example of that. As a freshman in 2009, she was on the court for just one play at last year's state tournament. She started against Jewett Leon on Thursday, recording the match-clinching ace.

"It kind of is (frightening) in some ways, knowing that your team is depending on you," Weaver said. "But it's exciting, too, to know they're depending on you also. I just go out there and get it done."